He didn't play in the band I hate. A different band with the same name is the one I hate.
Syd Barrett wrote the vast majority of Pink Floyd's lyrics and music in his years with them. He also was the one that came up with the name. When he left the band they were one of the most popular in England. So, while I don't know whether or not they were popular right after he left, it certainly carried name recognition. I don't see how that is necessarily relevant though. Did Joy Division change their name after Ian Curtis died? Yes, as did the members of Nirvana. Why? Because when the guy that writes your songs and sings your songs is unable to continue, you are a different band. The only reason to keep the same name is to sell records to people who think you are the same band. It would be hard to argue, however you feel, that Pink Floyd performed similar music from thier first era to their next.
As for me, my dad had Piper and Dark Side on vinyl, so I listened to them both when I got my first record player at like 12. I am not for sure which one I listened to first, but I immediately like Piper better and stuck with that. They were both German pressings too, which I thought was cool. I will admit that I had heard of Dark Side first, but I had never heard it. Although, I probably heard of the Wall before any others.
I don't like post Barrett Floyd, you do. Respond to this if you want, but nothing is going to change. In other words, this is my last post on the subject. Maybe I will go argue with my roommate about Macs vs. PC's, as it will go about the same as this.